Six in Seven Journalist Killings Go Unpunished Worldwide: UNESCO

Female journalists face widespread gender-based violence, harassment, and intimidation both online and in the field.

Nearly six out of every seven journalist killings worldwide go unpunished, with the global impunity rate rising for the first time in more than a decade. The growing use of drones has also emerged as a new threat to journalists covering conflicts, according to a report by UNESCO.

“Journalists are increasingly paying with their lives for reporting from the frontlines of war and far too often those responsible for their killings are not held accountable,” UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said.

The report found that the impunity rate for journalist killings reached 86% in 2024–2025, up one percentage point from the previous two-year period.

A total of 189 journalists and other media workers were confirmed killed during the period, a 20% increase from the previous biennium and the highest figure since 2014–2015. Of them, 127, or 67%, were killed in conflict zones.

The findings were published in the Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, released every two years to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed on November 2.

In a message marking the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at least 34 journalists had been killed over the past year, with six out of every seven killings going unpunished.

In conflict zones, the impunity rate was close to 100%, he said.

Guterres described the failure to bring those responsible to justice as a grave affront to victims, their families and everyone who relies on journalists for information.

Killings Recorded Across Regions

Journalist killings during 2024–2025 were recorded in all regions, making impunity a global concern, the report said.

The Arab States recorded the highest number of verified killings, at 97, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean with 37, Asia-Pacific with 34, Central and Eastern Europe with 14, Africa with six, and Western Europe and North America with one.

The State of Palestine recorded the highest number of journalist killings in both years, with 30 in 2024 and 32 in 2025.

Drones Emerge as a New Threat

UNESCO identified the growing use of drones to kill journalists as a disturbing new threat.

During 2024–2025, drone strikes killed 50 journalists, accounting for 40% of all journalist deaths in conflict zones.

The report documented seven incidents in which multiple journalists were killed in single attacks, including strikes on media offices and temporary reporting centres.

Fifteen journalists were reportedly killed while wearing press vests or travelling in vehicles clearly marked with the word “Press”.

El-Enany called for compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2222, unanimously adopted in 2015, which recognises journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians entitled to protection during armed conflicts.

He also referred to the commitment reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future.

Progress in Countries Without Conflict

The report highlighted some progress, noting that impunity for journalist killings in countries not experiencing conflict had continued to decline.

The rate fell from 94% in 2012 to 77% in 2026, representing an average annual reduction of one percentage point.

The number of journalists killed in non-conflict zones stood at 85, the lowest figure in 18 years.

UNESCO said the progress demonstrated that improvements were possible when governments invested in investigations, prosecutions and measures to protect journalists.

Women Journalists Face Particular Risks

The report also highlighted the specific threats faced by women journalists, both in conflict zones and online.

Of the 14 women journalists killed during 2024–2025, 13 were in countries experiencing armed conflicts.

A 2025 study by UN Women and the International Center for Journalists found that 75% of women journalists had experienced online or offline abuse and harassment.

More than 40% reported experiencing offline violence linked to online attacks, compared with 20% in a UNESCO survey conducted in 2020.

“Across the world, journalists continue to pay an outrageous price for telling the truth,” Guterres said.

Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, he called for justice, warning that attacks on journalists and efforts to silence their reporting affect society as a whole.

Source: UN News